Ratchet tripod-leg.



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C. S. LAWRENCE.

RATGHET TRIPOD LEG.

APPLIOATION FILED sBPT. s, 1912.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

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CHARLES S. LAWRENCE, OF MOUNT LOWE, CALIFORNIA.

RA'ICHET TRIPOD-LEG.

Lenssen.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

Application led September 3, 1912. Serial No.,718,235.

To all whom t may conc-ern Be it known that I, CHARLES S. LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Lowe, California, have invented a new and useful Ratchet Tripod- Leg, 0f which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in adjustable legs for tripods of the kinds used for supporting photographic and scientific instruments.

The object of the invention is to provide a tripod leg which may be quickly and easily adjusted from one length to another and which will hold rigidly when nally' adjusted. The means by which I have accomplished these beneficial results are set forth herein and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which;

Figure l is a front view of a tripod leg equipped with my new features. Fig. 2 is a fragmental side view of the portion of leg containing my improvements. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line a-a in Fig. 2. Fig. 4L is a transverse section taken at b-b in Fig. 3.

Throughout the several views like characters indicate like parts.

Referring to the details of construction l is a slidable member of a tripod leg.

2 is the member which serves as a guide for the part l and to which the part l is secured when the tripod is in use. In some tripods an additional folding member 3 connects the part 2 with the tripod head, in other cases the part 2 is attached directly to said tripod head by any ordinary means.

rIhis invention lies in the manner in which the parts l and 2 are locked in any desired relative position.

4t is a ratchet embedded in the side of the member l. The number of teeth in this ratchet may be varied to suit the particular requirements of each case.

5 is a pawl pivoted in a slot 6 in the side of the member 2. This pawl actuated by a spring 7 engages the ratchet 4.

8 is a release socketed in the end of the pawl 5 and provides a means for releasing the pawl from the ratchet.

9 is a notch cut in the edge ofthe release 8. When the release is pressed inward and has raised the pawl from contact with the ratchet, it may be locked in this position by pushing the release upward and causing the notch to engage the metal plate l0 through which it operates, see dotted lines in Fig. 3. In this manner the member l is released and will remain released until the notch a is disengaged from the plate l0 and the release is pushed outward by means of the spring 7 The use of the device is obvious from the forego-ing description.

When the tripod is being leveled up, the slidable members of the legs are released by means of the releases and are lengthened out to a length which may be expected to be approximately correct. The releases are then disengaged and the pawls engage the ratchets. The adjustment of each leg is finally completed by withdrawing the member 1 or by depressing the release and pushing the member 1 upward.

The practical merits of this invention over the ordinary existing clamp means for securing the members l and 2 together will be readily seen by any one acquainted with the use of tripods.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

In a ratchet tripod, the combination with a plurality of upright sections extending substantially parallel in spaced relation, means for holding. said sections in spaced relation, one of said sections being provided with a longitudinally-extending slot leading from the outer side face and communicating with the space between the sections, a cover plate for the outer end of the. slot in the section, a lower member slidably mounted in the space between the sections of said upper member, a tooth rack bar carriedby said lower member, a pawl pivotally mounted in said slot and having one end portion provided with a curved arm forming a substantially circular pocket, said pawl provided with a circular socket formed in one end thereof terminating in a substantially conical-shape entrance opening, a lever extending through said cover plate and provided with a rounded inner end tting in said socket, Asaid lever provided with a neck tapering toward said rounded end adapted to work in said substantially co-nical-shape entrance opening for permitting said pawl to be swung upon its pivot without binding upon the sides of said lever, said lever provided with a notch upon its upper end of the same Width as the thickness of said cover said cover plate for facilitating the withplate, said notch adapted to lit over said drawal of said lover through said cover cover plate for lirmly holding said lever plate.

against reciprocal movement, said lever pro- CHARLES S. LAVRENCE. vided with an enlarged head, said head belVitnesses:

VVing spaced from said notch for causing` said JOHN McDoNALD,

head to he held in spaced relation relative to CHRISTINE LAWRENCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

